West Ham & Wolves in battle for midfielder who Manuel Pellegrini says has ‘a lot of power’ | OneFootball

West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing moves for Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa

West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers have both had relatively quiet transfer windows this summer since relegation back to the Championship, but that could be about to change sooner rather than later, with both clubs going head-to-head with one another for the signature of Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa.

Deossa, 26, has spent the bulk of his career playing in his native Colombia, as well as time in Argentina and Mexico with Estudiantes, Pachuca, and Monterrey, before joining Spanish outfit Real Betis last summer.

The Colombian made 33 appearances across all competitions for Betis last season, but managed less than 800 minutes of league football under former Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, who has recently said that Deossa has 'a lot of power' within his game.

Now, according to Spanish outlet MundoBetis, scouts from both West Ham and Wolves have been sent to Dublin for Betis' game against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening, with the Championship duo fixating their focus on Deossa ahead of a potential swoop.

West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers are interested in Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa this summer

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With both West Ham and Wolves sending scouts to watch Deossa in the flesh, MundoBetis also report that scouts from Ipswich Town and Leeds United will also be in attendance at the Aviva Stadium for Betis' game against the Gunners.

The Colombian has been utilised as a forward by Pellegrini in pre-season, scoring twice, and attracting interest from numerous clubs in England, including the recently relegated duo.

Brazilian outfit Vasco Da Gama were reportedly in negotiations over a deal for Deossa, but a halt has been put on that move by the Spanish outfit, who are looking to see if a better offer from the United Kingdom arrives.

No formal moves have been made by either West Ham or Wolves as yet, and should Deossa impress in his makeshift centre-forward role against Arsenal, it would not be a surprise to see either of the second-tier sides launch a bid for the Colombian soon after.

Why are West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers interested in Nelson Deossa?

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Deossa has limited experience of playing in Europe, though even during his time in North and South America, he never featured in more than 20 league games in a single season.

Despite this, he has seemingly attracted interest from the UK, as both West Ham and Wolves weigh up offers for the Colombian.

West Ham need midfield recruits, especially after the £85 million sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur and Freddie Potts' £10 million move to Club Brugge, whilst Edson Alvarez is also expected to leave before the window is over.

Wolves, meanwhile, have sold Joao Gomes to Aston Villa for around £38 million, and though Marshall Munetsi and Tommy Doyle have returned from their loans to provide Cesar Peixoto with more options in the middle of the park, the Portuguese head coach is looking to add some more strength and depth in that area.

Capable of playing anywhere across the midfield, but being predominantly deployed in a slightly more advanced role, Deossa could offer more of a goal threat from that area, and given he has deputised up front for Betis in pre-season, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that he could be a new centre-forward option for either club.

Deossa will hope to impress on Wednesday night and await to see if offers from England come his way, with both West Ham and Wolves in attendance.

West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers must accelerate transfer business soon with the Championship season closing in

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With less than two weeks until the Championship season gets underway, supporters of both West Ham and Wolves will be urging the club to complete some business sooner rather than later.

Wolves can at least be excited about the additions of Kieran Trippier, Raul Jimenez, and Rafiki Said, though the Hammers are yet to get a deal over the line for any new incoming.

Deossa could change that in East London, though with Wolves, Leeds, and Ipswich lurking, their task is far from straightforward.

How this one plays out remains to be seen, as this is a saga to keep a close eye on.